Teaching and Learning Strategies (INDICATIVE)

A blended learning strategy is applied. The formal class contact sessions are used to direct the learning undertaken by students. Class contact will be structured to encourage active participation and will consist of case studies and exercises, together with course member presentations and some formal lectures and presentations.

The emphasis is on interpretation and evaluation rather than model building. Sessions will focus on the evolution and path dependence of ideas, institutions, rules and regulations, and current applications. The aim is to develop skills in critical reasoning, comprehension of complex phenomena, and ranking their importance and significance in the business, legal, and financial, environment, for organisations in advanced, emerging or transition economies.

Recommended Reading

Baye, M. (2003) Managerial Economics and Business Strategy, 4^th ed, McGraw Hill: London.

Brealey R., Myers S. and Allen F, (2006) Corporate Finance, 8^th ed, McGraw-Hill: New York

Morrison J. (2006) The International Business Environment: Global and Local Marketplaces in a Changing World, 2^nd ed, Palgrave: Basingstoke

Fundamental PM Tools and Techniques

Pre-requisites: None (Semester 1/Year 1)

Co-requisites: None

MODULE SUMMARY

The growing interest in project management stems from the pressures of modern business on the increasing complexity of products; on the demand for integrated organizational teamwork; on the dramatically shortened time-to-market periods; on the need for higher level of organizational efficiency.

This course introduces the basic principles, processes, techniques and tools of modern project management. It covers both general business project management and information technology specific project management. Strategic implications of project management to organizational strategy will be addressed. The course will also cover management issues associated with package software implementation and outsourced projects. Students will use currently available project management software tools to successfully plan and execute projects.

This module aims to describe, demystify, and explain project management so that students are prepared for the follow on Project Management curriculum and can utilize new knowledge and skills in their professions and in their pursuit of their degree. Real world examples, case studies, and “war stories” will be used to illustrate major points. The objective is to demonstrate, that managing projects, while a challenging and rewarding career choice of itself, is a valuable life skill. This basic course serves as the framework upon which these separate topics can be placed, so that the later courses make sense in a whole-project context.

Students will learn to use project management processes and discuss them intelligently with colleagues, senior executives, or clients. • To provide a set of reference materials comprising class notes, sample project management plans (developed as class assignments), and handouts. These reference materials will serve the student as a project manager or as a professional who depends on project management and for future use within the Masters Degree Program. • To enjoy the class and to facilitate spirited, knowledgeable debates with classmates and instructors.

Aims

This is course intended to provide a broad but comprehensive introduction to project management. The course is based on experience and best practice and uses a case study approach. It will consider Project Management from a generic perspective with a focus on techniques and use of appropriate tools, techniques and terminology. A recurrent theme in the course will be the use of examples, case studies and links to real life student projects. The course addresses:

• What is strategy and benefits management in a project
• What is a Portfolio, Programme, Project
• Project organisation and structures
• Project phases and life-cycle
• Project context, sponsor, stakeholders
• Project success and failure, critical success factors/causes of spectacular failures
• Producing a Project Management Plan and sub plans
• Requirements and scope management
• Planning, monitoring and controlling projects
• Learning from Experience
• Risks and opportunities
• Dealing with change and issues

Specific Tools & Techniques used are:

• Investment Logic mapping
• Business Case Development
• Project Planning incorporating:
• Work Breakdown Structure, (Scope Management)
• Use of Critical Path in Scheduling (Time Management)
• Stakeholder Management (People Management)
• Communication management.
• Risk Management.
• Quality Management
• Procurement Management

Date: 2015-01-12; view: 838